Other mistake: The Onion Field is a true story about a cop who who is murdered on March 9, 1963. In the film prior to the murder one of the suspects is shown watching General Hospital on TV. GH didn't debut until April 1 1963, that almost a month after the murder happened. (00:20:55)
Factual error: In the opening credits, the camera is making a slow pan across a suburban neighborhood street following a row of houses. In one the driveways is parked a white 1965 Chevy Impala, although the film takes place in early 1963.